Direct Local Bristol Magazine 28th May - 3rd June

28th - 3rd June 2020

Bristol’s Online Weekly Magazine INSIDE THIS WEEK: NEW COMPETITION TO WIN £250 POST LOCKDOWN TRANSPORT GREAT WESTERN AIR AMBULANCE DEADLINE LOOMS FOR ARTISTS AND MUCH MUCH MORE!

TRAINING l SERVICE l SALES l HIRE

0117 967 0811 www.sullycycles.com

info@davisaccess.co.uk | www.davisaccess.co.uk 0117 980 3337 HOME AND GARDEN

Sales Servicing Repairs

0117 980 3337

BUSINESS NEWS

COMPETITIONS

LOCAL NEWS 1

CONSERVATORIES

WINDOWS

DOORS

Save 10% on the cost of your new conservatory frames and roof when you place your order usiing the discount code below Applies to PVCu, and aluminium conservatories.

Discount Code: MC20C

www.mendipconservatories.co.uk 2

Mendip Conservatory & Window Centre Ltd Smallway Bristol BS49 5AA Tel: (01934) 877 666 Email: sales@mendipconservatories.co.uk

3

Mikes letter Welcome to this weeks virtual magazine, as we enter half way through the year what have you achieved so far? During lockdown it seems a lot of DIY work has been done in the garden and in the our homes that has probably been put off for years.

As summer approaches we will probably be spending more time than ever at home in our gardens with barbeques and sun bathing so why not make it the best it can be. However, if you’re like me and not a big fan of the sunshine, especially when is scorching hot outside then your inner sanctum that’s your home is going to be your best friend sat in front the TV with binge worthy box sets. Either way just enjoy the slower pace of life at the moment as before you know it we will be back to running around like headless chickens queuing up at shopping malls trying to get the best deals.

I suppose looking back on the lockdown we will all think how nice the simple life really is and want to return to the peace and quiet all over again without the Draconian lockdown measures and the dreaded virus that is Covid-19. On that note please stay alert this weekend and safe lives by not venturing out to the hot spots around Bristol to grab those rays. Please Stay At Home.

This week..

7. An 80’s feel

8. Post lockdown transport 10. The lockdown landlords of Bristol

The team EDITOR Michael Davies WEB DESIGNER Matthew Clarke ACCOUNTS Lisa Davies PROOF READER Elisabeth Davies MOB: 07500 017236 Advertising sales Tel: 0117 3258029 Email: info@directlocalonline.com Online Weekly Distribution: Direct Local Online now reaches over 20,000 people across Bristol via their inbox and social media each week.

Printed Monthly Magazines: South Bristol North Bristol South Glos North Somerset Facebook.com/directlocal Twitter.com/directlocalmag

ALLEN STONE ESTATE AGENTS

13. Great Western Air Ambulance 16. Tap for Bristol 25. June Horoscopes 27. Stranded babies 28. Co-operation is key during Covid -19 38. Your garden in June 44. City and Port of Bristol Bowls Club 48, Deadline for artists

0117 244 4441

www.allenstone.co.uk

www.directlocalbristol.co.uk

Disclaimer The opinions expressed in Direct Local do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, publisher or their agents. Whilst every reasonable care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information included within this publication, the publisher takes no responsibility for errors or omissions in Direct Local.

The content of Direct Local is not to be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher. Please pass to a friend, recycle or compost. All adverts designed by Direct Local are the property of Direct Local please contact us if you wish to reprint them in other publications as a small release fee Is applied. Use of adverts designed by us will need written permission first.

4

www.gasproboilers.co.uk PROFESSIONAL SERVICE EVERYTIME

PLUMBING & HEATING ENGINEERS

ALL PLUMBING & GAS WORK UNDERTAKEN BOILER INSTALLATIONS BOILER REPAIRS POWER FLUSHING UNVENTED SYSTEM INSTALLATIONS 505353 BATHROOM INSTALLATIONS

FULLY INSURED

RECOMENDED

INTEREST FREE CREDIT & 10YR WARRANTY ON NEW BOILER INSTALLATION

Tel: Nathan Proud

07830 448127

thegaspro@gmail.com

SIMON GOLDSMITH FAMILY OPTICIAN

We are an independent practice based in Stockwood for over 38 years. We are fully equipped for eye examinations and all aspects of eyecare.

www.simongoldsmithopticians.co.uk

Tel: 01275 838532

NEW

PATIEN TS

WELCO

ME

Contact us for personal advice for your eyecare and eyewear. We can also cater for all budgets...... Simple & Sophisticated.

NHS and private patients welcome

FREE EASY PARKING

Simon Goldsmiths Opticians 70 Hollway Road Stockwood, Bristol BS14 8PG Opening Hours Monday – Friday 9.00am - 5.30pm Saturday 9.00 am - 1.00pm Closed Wednesday

5

selling homes in your area HENLEAZE

Sales - 0117 2130777 | henleaze@goodmanlilley.co.uk

ETLE LAGERTEEDASLGA REED

PORTISHEAD

Sales - 01275 430440 | sales@goodmanlilley.co.uk

The Indepen

& Land Agents

Lettings: 01275 2990 lilley.co.uk @goodman 10 • lettin

299010 • lettings A6 Flyers.in

SHIREHAMPTON

dent Sales, Lettings

& Land Agents t Sales, Lettings

The Independen

Lettings: 01275

dd 3

A6 Flyers.indd

3

gs@good

manlilley.c

18/09/2018

o.uk

13:23

18/09/20

18 13:23

Sales - 0117 2130333 | shire@goodmanlilley.co.uk

lettings Lettings - 01275 299010 | 0117 2990101 lettings@goodmanlilley.co.uk

Henleaze • Shirehampton • Portishead 6

Shirehampton_back page.indd 1

24/01/2019 11:54

80’s feel for a new shop in Bristlington

The bicycle shop on Wick road is no more. It is the bicycle shop on Sandy Park road, as we hear it from the proud owners, Andrew and his wife, Julianna. The shop started operations in 2014 and it got to the next level and the owners felt it is a lot better placed in the heart of Brislington, right next door to the very popular Deli.

They moved in last week and opened their doors on Thursday 21st May.

Andrew told us that all of their opening hours are updated on google and they operate on strict a one in one out basis until the lockdown is relaxed.

The shop needed an update, needed a direction and the new premises were just perfect for their purposes. Industrial set up, just like a bicycle shop in the 80's. They wanted to create a retro feel and give Sandy Park Road the one thing it was missing for decades: their bike shop.

Briscycle ltd, Your local bicycle shop since 2014

e e th 1 exp om # r Fr K’s ove U ke a m

en

h tc

Ki

REFRESH YOUR TIRED KITCHEN by just swapping the doors and worktops

s. rt

Before

• Excellent reputation • From simple door replacements to fully fitted kitchens • Choose from a wide range of quality doors, worktops, appliances, sinks & taps • Installed quickly and cleanly by our own local professional fitters in just a few days

www.dreamdoors.co.uk

RUN FAMILY SS BUSINE

EST. 1999

®

CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE ON:

0117 944 3223 Visit our showroom: 11/12 The Promenade, Gloucester Rd, Bristol BS7 8AL

9.59/10

Over 290 reviews on

See what our customers have to say

7

Post Lockdown Transport

We wrote here a few weeks ago about our campaign to persuade the Labour mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, to come up with proposals to make walking and cycling safer during the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic. Many cities across the UK and around the world had already established pop-up cycle lanes and temporarily widened pavements to aid social distancing but nothing was happening in Bristol.

Following our successful campaign, we were pleased the mayor finally announced his plans for Bristol. However, we were disappointed by the lack of ambition and the length of time to deliver on the promises. In fact, the main idea, the pedestrianisation of the old city, is nothing new. While extremely welcome, this has been on the cards for many years. The mayor is simply hoping to use extra government funding to bring forward the completion of the scheme. As for the new suggestions, very little is likely to be ready until the end of summer. Other cities have got on and delivered infrastructure in a matter of days. Why is Bristol so slow?

We are also disappointed that once again Brislington has been overlooked. The mayor has largely concentrated on the centre of the city and Clifton, but completely ignored our part of Bristol.

Prior to Lockdown, we were beset with some of the worst congestion and pollution in the city. It would be a travesty if that situation were allowed to return once lockdown is over.

We believe that a few simple changes could quickly and easily improve life for Brislington residents now and in the future. One idea is to allow the Brislington Park and Ride buses to pick up and drop off en route to and from the centre, which would greatly increase overall passenger capacity and reduce waiting times on the A4 corridor. Another suggestion is to encourage commuters from outside Bristol to use the Park and Ride and then complete their journey by bike.

Of course, cycling infrastructure on the Bath Road would need to be improved if we wanted to encourage more people to cycle. We could also end rat-running on minor residential streets by using planters to block through traffic.

Unfortunately, the most obvious improvement, one that would be a game-changer for our area, has once again been rejected by the Labour administration.

8

As you may be aware, we have long campaigned for the Brislington Greenway, a green corridor and active travel route along the former Brislington Railway Line. Andrew presented our petition calling for the Greenway at Full Council back in December and we finally received an official response this week. Despite having well over 2,200 signatures from local residents, the Labour council has reiterated its commitment to build a major new road here instead. New roads mean more traffic, more congestion and more pollution. Despite all the talk about changing the way we travel and protecting the environment, it looks like it’s business as usual for this backward-looking administration.

You can find out more about our campaign for the Brislington Greenway here: http://www.bristollibdems.org/brislingtonrailwaypath

By Jos Clark, Local Councillor (Brislington West) & Andrew Varney, Local Councillor Candidate (Brislington West) Email: cllr.jos.clark@bristol.gov.uk Mobile: 07584 370 429 As you may know, Cllr. Jos Clark and Andrew Varney regularly keep residents informed via our quarterly newsletter, ‘Focus on Brislington West’.

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, we are currently unable to deliver a paper version of our newsletters, but we do have an online version. If you would like to keep abreast of local and city-wide news and views, please register using the link below: http://www.bristollibdems.org/efocus Andrew and Jos inspected the Brislington Greenway back in December 2017. An active travel route here could potentially remove thousands of car journeys from our congested roads.

Facebook: @BrislingtonLibDems Twitter: @BrisLibDems Website: www.bristollibdems.org

9

The Lockdown Landlords of Bristol Despite Government regulations that have been in place since the 26 March 2020, when in-person viewings were made illegal, Bristol buy to let landlords have during that time been chomping at the bit to build their property empire by looking at buying additional properties for their Bristol buy to let portfolio. There are plenty of investors who think nothing of legally committing to buying a property ‘off plan’ before it’s built – yet over the last few weeks, it has become the norm in the second-hand Bristol property market and they have now stolen a march and bagged some property bargains.

Normally, the face-to-face viewing is step one of the second-hand house buying process .. yet now it’s becoming the ‘new normal’ that some Bristol agents are carrying out semi-professional video viewings or 360-degree video tours. Even homeowners are getting in on the act and managing a Facetime or Zoom video viewing by walking around their house with their mobile phone. Yet the Government announced on Wednesday, 13th May 2020 that the Estate & Letting Agency industry could reopen meaning people could view houses, visit agents and move home be they tenants, buyers, landlords or home-sellers. This is all subject to general and specific social distancing rules, specific hygiene regulations and suitable PPE being used.

What has been happening in the last few weeks in the Bristol property market?

The average time between sale agreed and exchange/completion of contracts on a house sale (i.e. the keys and monies get sorted) is 17 to 19 weeks, which means buying today would mean you wouldn’t be getting your hands on the property until late September or October at the earliest. Spring is the time when most properties come onto the market, yet as one would expect, the number of Bristol properties coming onto the market has been somewhat reduced since lockdown as ..

239 Bristol properties have been put up for sale in the last month This reduction in supply of new properties coming onto the market combined with this pent-up demand from both Bristol landlords and the ‘Boris-Bounce’ could in fact be good news for the Bristol property market, let me explain…

Rightmove stated that people going to their website initially dropped by 40% at the start of lockdown, yet now has recovered, with a near doubling of people searching for properties with gardens (for both sales and renting).

10

For many Bristol buy to let landlords (and in fact Bristol homebuyers) now is the very best time to do research into the Bristol property market. All the portals have access to 25 years of property sales with pictures, so you can compare and contrast what has happened to various different property types around Bristol to spot those under-priced bargains, meaning you can get moving quickly after lockdown.

Rather than feeling trapped or powerless, this time can be used fruitfully by Bristol buyers and Bristol sellers to get their ducks in a row One of the biggest barriers in April was mortgage lending. In the early days of the pandemic, most mortgage lenders removed many of their best deals and enormously restricted their capacity.

Currently, though, we are seeing a revitalisation in the mortgage market. In May, with many mortgage products becoming accessible again for borrowers, and with many mortgage companies integrating more digital processes (including Virtual Surveyor Mortgage Valuations in some cases) the mortgage market now has plenty of options available to those who are keen to obtain borrowing.

There is no doubt the Bristol housing market got off to a sturdy start in 2020. With Brexit at least partly resolved, the ‘Boris-Bounce’ was starting to take off. With Bristol house prices being robust and rental demand was high, the Bristol property market was already in a good place to deal with the subsequent Covid-19 issue. I know there are a few doom mongers in the National Press spouting about a massive crash in the UK property market.

There is a natural tendency for newspapers to latch onto the worst-case scenario in any economic forecast. Who can forget the country received similar projections in the lead-up to the 2016 Brexit vote with HMRC itself stating that UK house values would drop by at least 10% in the first 12 months should the UK vote for Brexit and 20% in two years! With the rollercoaster of the stock market in recent months, investing one’s money into good old-fashioned bricks and mortar has started to seem a good place again.

Buying a property for investment means you have a tangible asset, something you can touch and feel (and understand). The returns from investing in property come from both capital appreciation and income from the rent, and yes whilst property values can go up as well as down, successful buy to let landlords are inclined to take a long-term view on their property investments.

£1,246 per month Is the average gross profit from a Bristol terraced/town house To give you an example of the current buy to let returns, the average Bristol terraced/town house sells for £302,000. By taking the ‘The Mortgage Works’ BTL 5-year fixed rate of 1.64%, with £3,640 in up-front fees, a 20-year repayment mortgage would cost you £890 per month or interest only mortgage would only cost £249 per month .. considering the average rent for a terraced/town house in Bristol is £1,495 per month .. even before management, tax, maintenance and other associated costs, that’s a decent gross profit (the £1,246 gross profit is an illustrative example using the interest only mortgage and the capital element would need repaying at the end of the term).

Isn’t it funny the newspapers aren’t latching on to some reports to say the property market might go in the other direction? Remember – bad news sells newspapers!

So, should you wait to buy your Bristol buy to let investment?

Before you buy consider factors like the strength of your financial future, your credit score, the current state of the property market and even more importantly, the state of the mortgage market. Look at the current interest rates, they have never been so low and deliberate the experts’ opinions and just as equally your own opinions as to whether Bristol property values are on the rise, will stay the same or are likely to fall. Interest rates are at record lows, meaning borrowing money is cheap money now, so it may be a good time to buy, as you will pay a reduced cost for the pleasure of borrowing money to buy that investment.

Yet, if you waited and Bristol property values are on the decline, it may be a good idea to wait, as you could end up getting a better deal on the same type of home, yet if that happens, access to the cheap finance might dry up (meaning you could save some of the purchase price, but the cost of borrowing could go up). It can be very hard to accurately predict what interest rates or property values will do, so these shouldn’t be deciding factors – but they are worth considering.

So, what will happen to the Bristol (and UK) property market?

To be honest – nobody knows. What I do know is the Swine Flu in 2009 caused some volatility in the UK property market, but the market stabilised within months. Even in disaster scenarios such as the current one, property remains comparatively stable and will continue to be one of the best places to invest in.

Yes, we could see unemployment rise in the next 6 months (yet the Furlough Scheme has been extended until the autumn) and historically, it has been proved house price falls are not caused by high unemployment; yes GDP will drop drastically because of lockdown yet it could bounce back like it has in China; yes, the number of property transactions will drop, yet that will only really effect the pockets of Bristol removal people, Bristol solicitors & estate agents and the Chancellor of the Exchequer in lost stamp duty receipts; yes there is £82bn worth of property sales on ice during this lockdown (some of which might not complete) .. it’s all ifs, buts and maybes.

Calamity changes things: with every predicament, humanity shifts to become more productive – it’s the way it’s always been The national debt at the end of the Napoleonic Wars of 1815 in today’s money was an eye watering £4,421,000,000,000 (£4.42 trillion) and today even with the eye watering borrowing to fund Covid-19, it stands at £1,821.3 trillion – we have been here before and we came out stronger.

The Bank of England failed in 1825, yet we recovered stronger; the Great Depression of the 1930’s cut the Stock Market by 90%, yet we recovered; WW2 took national debt to 200% of GDP like it had in the Napoleonic Wars in the early 1800’s – yet we recovered; the oil crisis quadrupled oil prices in the 1970’s – and we ca me back …. The list goes on with Hyper-inflation in the 1970s of 25%, mass unemployment in the 1980’s, Black Monday in 1987, Dot-com bubble in 2001 and the credit crunch in 2008/9. With every economic crisis, the long-term effects of them make people look at their decision making differently.

The simple fact is for decades, demand for homes has outstripped supply – hence why property values have remained so robust. People are living longer (71.1 years in 1960 and 81.1 years nowadays), the mass exodus of EU nationals has not taken place since Brexit and the birth rate has increased by 9.1% since the Millennium which means since 2000, the country has needed at least 240,000 households per year to satisfy the demand. On average, we have only built 150,000 households a year, meaning we have a shortfall of 90,000 households each year for 20 years .. a true shortfall of 1.8m households .. and until we start building anything over that 240,000 requirement … demand will always outstrip supply – and we all know what happens to prices when that happens!

11

Add light, space & style

to your home

Windows • Doors • Conservatories Range of finance offers to help spread the cost

Clevedon Showroom: 01275 878153 Bristol Showroom: 0117 971 6067 www.britanniawindows.co.uk 12

Great Western Air Ambulance Charity to receive one-off government funding in response to COVID-19 Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) welcome today’s announcement from the Department of Health and Social Care that Air Ambulances UK are set to receive £6 million of funding to be distributed amongst the UK’s 22 air ambulance charities, in response to COVID-19.

It is yet to be confirmed how much GWAAC and each of the air ambulances will receive, but the funding comes as part of £22 million which is being awarded to health and care charities to allow them to continue providing vital support to their communities during the pandemic.

Despite the lockdown, GWAAC’s Specialist Paramedics and Critical Care Doctors have continued to work on the frontline, stepping up and adapting their lifesaving service to support their NHS colleagues in the fight against COVID-19.

The crew have been attending to COVID-19 patients as part of their normal day-to-day service, adapting their work to wear full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) needed to remain safe. The charity is also providing Specialist Paramedics to work on a 24/7 Trauma Advice Line to support land crews and ease the strain on the NHS, and previously provided Specialist Paramedics and ventilators to assist with inter-hospital transfers for critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Like all air ambulance charities across the UK, GWAAC are not funded by the NHS, and receive no day-to-day funding from the Government, relying on vital charitable donations to raise the £4 million a year needed to remain operational.

Anna Perry, CEO of GWAAC, says: “Although it is unlikely that the money we receive from this pot of funding will cover the shortfall we are expecting in income this year, it will make a huge difference to us being able to continue providing our lifesaving service to those in need, allowing us to be more resilient in these uncertain times. We look forward to receiving further details over how the funding will be allocated.”

Due to COVID-19, many fundraising events and campaigns have had to be cancelled or postponed, having a significant impact on income for charities across the UK. This announcement comes at a time when funding is needed more than ever to ensure that Great Western Air Ambulance Charity, who have seen their number of call-outs start to rise again, can continue providing their vital services.

Anna continued: “We are eternally grateful to have such a generous and supportive community that recognise the invaluable service our crew are continuing to provide on the frontline of this pandemic. We are proud to be supporting our NHS colleagues in the fight against this virus, and we couldn’t do this without them.”

GWAAC provides the critical care and air ambulance service to 2.1 million people across Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire. Their crew bring the skills and equipment of a hospital to the scene of the most critically ill or injured across the region, providing lifesaving treatment where it’s needed the most.

13

St Anne’s station bid When I stood for election in January this year, better public transport for the people of St Anne’s and the wider Brislington area was a key theme of my campaign. I had a lot of ideas on how things could be improved and, once elected, I set about trying to achieve as much as I could in the short time available to me before the scheduled elections in May 2020.

There is one piece of good news however. A part of my campaign was the promise to keep up the pressure on WECA, our West of England Combined Authority, to develop plans for the re-instatement of a railway station at St Anne’s Park. I am very pleased to announce that this week myself and our local MP for Bristol East, Kerry McCarthy, have submitted a first stage application to the government under their “Restoring Your Railway” programme to look at the feasibility of building a new station (the old one is long gone).

If we are successful, the government will provide a grant of 75% of the costs for a full feasibility study to be carried out.

Sadly, a lot has happened since then, and very little of it good! The ferry service which I helped to organise between Netham Lock and the Centre has had to be cancelled indefinitely.

The re-organisation of the 513/514 bus service which I persuaded the Council to undertake has also been put on hold. The future of public transport is a big unknown right now.

14

This is only the first stage. We know that St Anne’s part of the long-term ambitions for WECA but we want to bring that forward and make it a priority.

If we succeed in this phase, there will be a full application process to be completed by the end of June, so the timescales are really tight, but we will do everything we can to try to bring this about for the people of Brislington, who are desperate for improved transport links at this time.

By Tim Rippington, Local Councillor Candidate (Brislington East)

www.facebook.com/crystalclearbristol

www.pinterest.co.uk/crystalclearbristol

Aluminium, Timber, PVCu Windows & Doors Visit our showroom 24 Emery Road, Brislington, Bristol BS4 5PF To find out more, call 01179 717 880 or visit www.crystalclearbristol.co.uk

Bristol’s Biggest Showroom

TSA ACCOUNTANTS BRISTOL LTD CHARTERED CERTIFIED ACCOUNTANTS AND ADVISORS 0117 923 5394

enquiries@tsabusinessadvisors.co.uk

ACCA

www.tsabusinessadvisors.co.uk

Your one stop shop for Accountancy, Tax and Business Advice

TSA Accountants Bristol Ltd 124 Gloucester Road Patchway Bristol BS34 5BP

Accounting Services Sole Trader Self Employed Limited Company Partnership Contractor

Business Advice Professional business advice to help set you on the path to growth and success.

This is included within our services as standard.

Free Initial Consultation We offer a free initial consultation to assess the level of accountancy services you require.

15

TAP for Bristol donates £10,000 to Bristol's homelessness support services Homeless people currently isolating in a new Bristol city centre hostel are to be given personal budgets to help them move on to stable accommodation, thanks to a £5,000 grant raised through TAP for Bristol, the city's new contactless donation scheme for homelessness.

This is the first donation to be made from funds raised through TAP for Bristol, a network of nearly 20 contactless donation points around the city, set up by the Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with Caring in Bristol last year. People can tap their contactless credit or debit card to give £3. Half of the money raised is being used for homelessness crisis support and half for homelessness prevention work. The new £5,000 grant will help Bristol mental health charity Second Step set up personal budgets for 50 clients to buy essential items to get set up in new homes after isolating due to the coronavirus outbreak. Support workers will ask clients how they would like to spend the money.

Items bought could include mobile phones, clothes, toiletries, all of which are essential to finding work, along with furniture, bedding, kitchen equipment as well as training courses or travel to connect with family, post Covid-19 restrictions.

A second grant of £5,000 will go towards funding a money advisor and a housing advisor to support people at risk of homelessness through Caring in Bristol in partnership with local housing advice service CHAS and debt advice charity Talking Money. The most common factor leading to homelessness in the UK is the loss of a private rented tenancy. The charity has warned that even more people are facing home insecurity, and that there will be a sharp increase in evictions as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. This funding will give capacity to proactively reach out to people who are at risk of losing their home to offer advice and support.

Vicky Lee, project lead for TAP for Bristol at Bristol City Centre BID, said: "It's been truly humbling to see how people have embraced TAP for Bristol. Thanks to their generosity we have been able to donate £10,000 to homelessness support and prevention services in Bristol during the coronavirus outbreak. The initiative has raised almost £20,000 in just over 6 months, so a second £10,000 grant will also be available very soon to support other frontline charities.

•

£5,000 for supporting homeless people out of COVID-19 isolation

•

£5,000 to fund homelessness prevention work

16

"The coronavirus pandemic has brought about yet more risks and challenges for homeless people in our city, so we are delighted to make this first grant available to help people who've been isolating in a hostel or hotel to set up a stable home. We are hugely grateful to the people of Bristol and ask everyone who can to keep tapping to donate £3."

Aileen Edwards, Second Step's Chief Executive added: "If there is a silver lining to be found in the incredible hardship brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, it's that we have been able to support more people to move away from the streets. This grant will help people we're supporting find a safer life away from the streets."

Ben Richardson, Director of Caring in Bristol, added: "Our charity's mission is to create a caring city empowered to solve homelessness and stopping people from becoming homeless in the first place is key to achieving that. This money will help us fund the crucial work of our advisors who support people with financial and housing challenges in order to help them to keep their homes."

These new grants are being made as TAP for Bristol approaches its second £10,000 donation target, thanks to the generosity of members of the public, who will have donated a total of £20,000 since the scheme launched in September last year.

Reaching the second £10,000 will trigger the next round of grants to local charities supporting people in Bristol who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, particularly as charities gear up for crisis recovery following the coronavirus pandemic.

Whilst a small number of the 19 TAP for Bristol donation points are not currently accessible due to coronavirus restrictions, such as those inside business premises, the vast majority of TAP points are in public places such as shop, bar and hotel windows and are continuing to receive donations from people doing essential shopping or out on their daily exercise. An online donation page has also been set up at https://www.justgiving.com/ campaign/tapforbristol ‘TAP for Bristol' aims to help make Bristol the city that solves homelessness. The scheme launched in September 2019 and raises funds through its contactless donation points where people can tap their credit or debit card to donate £3. The funds are divided equally between Caring in Bristol and local frontline services facilitated by the Quartet Community Foundation which manages the grant programme and the donations.

For more information about ‘TAP for Bristol' visit www.tapforbristol.org and video here Any organisation wanting to apply for a grant can do so online, via the Quartet website.

17

Call: 07827 453 322

S KID MARTIAL ARTS CLASSES ONLINE

PASS FREE

www.vmabristol.co.uk

Why not let us know what you want to see in your local magazines.

We would love to here your views on how we are doing.

Email Mike at: info@directlocalonline.com 18

ECO VAN SPARES Bristol’s Transit & Commercial Vehicle Spares Specialist

Cars

Vans

Lorries

WANTED FOR CASH FREE COLLECTION Unit 17, Bakers Park Cater Park Bishopsworth Bristol, BS13 7TT

Tel: 0117 9781919 ECOVANSPARES.COM

South Bristol - North Bristol - South Glos - North Somerset

WANT TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS ?

We have over 80,000 readers every month Direct Local Bristol has the solution to help your business get seen more..

Visit www.directlocalbristol.co.uk Email: info@directlocalonline.com Call: 0117 325 8029

Join our mailing list and receive our latest digital interactive versions of our magazines straight to your inbox

CALL 01179 647948

Body Repairs

Bristol Ltd

Car body work repairs Bristol

Body Repairs Bristol Ltd specialise in car and commercial vehicle bodywork.

We are Mercedes Benz and Daf commercial approved repairers.

We are a partnership that has been established for 11 years, but we have over 50 years experience in the trade.

Top Quality Professional Job At A Competitive Price We offer:

Accident repairs

Scan this code with your mobile to go straight to our website.

Body repairs Panel beating Paint spraying Fitting of body kits One-off body styling including spoilers Import repair specialists Custom painting, inc flake, candy & pearl Body Repairs Bristol Ltd have a great deal of experience in the repair of cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles.

Unit 5 Bakers Park, Bishopsworth, Bristol, BS13 7TT

Email : info@bodyrepairsbristol.com

Web: www.bodyrepairsbristol.com 19

Leading housebuilder partners with RSPB to give tips for wildlife watching in Bristol, Somerset & Gloucestershire as lockdown continues Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes have teamed up with long-term partner the RSPB to offer tips to people across Bristol, Gloucestershire and Somerset on bringing wildlife closer to home as the lockdown is eased but set to continue.

With the majority of us remaining at home, combined with a dramatic reduction in road traffic, many people are discovering the amazing wildlife on our doorsteps, and how important our gardens, balconies and outdoor spaces are, particularly in urban areas.

The RSPB, the UK's largest conservation charity, has worked with Barratt and David Wilson Homes to offer residents a practical guide to creating wildlife friendly areas, not only in gardens, but in smaller outdoor spots too, such as doorsteps, windowsills and balconies.

The show homes at Ladden Garden Village, Yate, from Barratt and David Wilson Homes, have been given a Gold award by the RSPB for their wildlife-friendly gardens, along with Silver for Great Oldbury (David Wilson Homes), and Great Oldbury (Barratt Homes), Stonehouse and Bronze for Sunningend View, Gloucester. The Ladden Garden Village show home gardens include a hedgehog highway, bird boxes and baths, a bug hotel, lavender hedges for bees and butterflies and a raised pond with child-safe grid.

Bringing Your Garden to Life, which has been shared with Barratt and David Wilson Homes customers across Bristol, Gloucestershire and So merset this week, outlines simple tips including:

20

• •

Provide food - much of which comes from plants. Select plants rich in pollen and nectar such as lavender, native honeysuckle, wallflower and summer jasmine and offer a variety of shrubs, climbers, flowers, grass and trees

•

Provide water - the single most wildlife rich home you can offer in anything from an upturned dustbin lid or old sink to a bird bath or full-sized wildlife pond

•

Provide shelter - in the form of plants and shrubs but also log piles and nesting boxes for birds, bats, bees and hedgehogs. All can be bought readymade but the Barratt RSPB Garden Guide includes lots of advice on making your own

•

Create a wildflower meadow on a windowsill -flowers such as corn marigold, cornflower, corn cockle and poppy will provide food for beneficial insects as well as birds. They can be grown in tubs adding a splash of colour and a welcome wildlife rest-stop to even the smallest of spaces

•

Plant up seasonal hanging baskets and pots - choose plants that are attractive to wildlife and try to include some native varieties. Include some plants that flower early and late and insects will visit in spring and autumn as well as summer.

Experiment with marigolds, verbena, fuchsias, heathers, dead-nettles, ivy and nasturtiums.

Mey Duek, RSPB wildlife expert added: "For many of us, taking a few moments to enjoy the natural world and discover the wildlife we share our neighbourhoods with has offered an escape from the news. Whether it is watching birds out of the window or hearing their songs from your garden there is no question that it is relaxing to enjoy nature. And studies have shown that this is good for both our physical and mental health.

"Unfortunately the UK's wildlife is disappearing, but our gardens can help reverse this. If you have been enjoying the sights and sounds of our birds and insects or have noticed wildlife is less common than you remember, you can help. We have worked with Barratt Homes to produce a simple guide to wildlife friendly gardening, along with tips and ideas for everyone whether you have a garden or window box. You do not need a big garden or lots of money to do this, and you will be helping the birds in your area."

Bringing Your Garden to Life is available to download here: https://www.barratthomes.co.uk/campaigns/ giving-nature-a-barratt-home/ https://www.dwh.co.uk/campaigns/providing-ahome-for-nature-to-thrive-in/

Barratt Developments, owner of Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, aims to be the leading national sustainable housebuilder. Through its partnership with the RSPB, launched in 2014, the company seeks to design and landscape its developments and green spaces in an ecological and nature-friendly way.

The five star developer also runs a nationwide programme to create RSPB approved wildlife-friendly gardens for its show homes, such as Ladden Garden Village, Yate, from Barratt and David Wilson Homes.

Chris Burton, West regional managing director, Barratt Developments Plc said: "With both the pace and place of life massively changed due to the current lockdown, combined with the arrival of spring, lots of us are watching wildlife like never before. So we're delighted to be able to continue this work by sharing some simple tips on giving nature a home with all of our customers, whether you're living in urban apartments, town houses or semi-rural developments."

"Through our long-standing partnership with the RSPB, the UK's largest conservation charity, we have made it our mission to improve the way in which nature and wildlife are incorporated into our new communities. So we're delighted to be able to continue this work by sharing some simple tips on giving nature a home with all of our customers, whether you're living in urban apartments, town houses or semi-rural developments."

21

GET YOUR INKS & TONERS TODAY WITHOUT THE NEED TO LEAVE THE HOUSE!

FREE DELIVERY* ANYWHERE IN BRISTOL *ORDERS OVER £20.00

K | VI

ON FA

U SIT S

BO CE O

CALL OR EMAIL:

0117 329 2788 INFO@WESTBURYINKS.CO.UK

22

Coronavirus: Split three-day week proposed to get UK economy out of COVID-19 crisis A split three-day week with workers separated into two different teams should be considered as part of the economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, a report has urged The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) has suggested firms arrange "A teams" and "B teams", typically working Monday to Wednesday or Thursday to Saturday.

The idea is based on a similar arrangement in South Korea and would help enable social distancing at work and ease congestion on the roads, cycling infrastructure and public transport.

A study suggested.

It is thought workers would then have greater choice to combine their jobs with caring, learning, or volunteering and lead to a future of more flexible work for both employers and employees.

Is the crisis an opportunity for positive change in the country? May be a 12-month 'back to work' strategy to help businesses plan of a better future - which in turn creates a better future of work, building green infrastructure, and brings citizens and experts closer together.

The study also speculated that over time, the 'team A' and 'team B' working could develop into a more permanent three-day week, while the negative income tax could become a basic income floor for citizens.

These ideas and others will clearly be subject to debate, but it's vital we have new thinking to 'build back better' and address the challenges we face, from the climate emergency to mass economic insecurity.

So what you do think of this possible proposal, would it work for you or your business if it ever comes into place. Email us know your thoughts on this at info@directlocalonline.com.

23

Try Our Award Winning Karate & Kickboxing Classes Today!

Call: 07757 990 420 ADULTS...Our muscle toning kickboxing classes will make you feel amazing, knock out boredom & blast away fat all over your body...

All this in just a few weeks Register onto our V.I.P. introductory course to receive

3 Weeks Free Classes

PARENTS...We don't just teach punching & kicking! We also help your child develop Greater fitness, rock solid confidence, have better personal discipline & respect, Improved focus, get better grades At school & safety awareness

We Offer Something For Everyone Little Dragons Karate 4 to 6 yrs Junior Dragons Karate 7 to 12 yrs Junior Dragons Kickboxing 7 to 12 yrs Adult Kickboxing 13 yrs +

www.BristolMartialArtsAcademy.com www.facebook.com/bristolmartialartsacademy

252 Central Park, Off Petherton Road, Hengrove, Bristol, BS14 9BZ 24

JUNE HOROSCOPES

Aquarius Jan 20-Feb 18 If you are missing your social life at present, remember this will not last forever. Use this time wisely, and step back and do a review of different areas of your life. This could mean you will find a new project or interest, Or decide to do a good clear out. It could be beneficial to you to follow your intuition, and to also try and take note of it.

Keywords. Review, and intuition Pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20 It seems very likely that you are feeling a little pulled in several directions at present.

Stop and take a breather, and allow your mind to drift and see if this helps you to find some clarity, to help you decide your next move. You may find you are putting off something that if you put your mind to, you will find a new energy for yourself, and something to be proud of.

Keywords clarity and inspiration Aries Mar 21 - Apr 19 You may be struggling a bit as you may be feeling stuck.If at all possible, try and relax into being more flexible, and sensitive to yourself and others Needs. If things are getting to you a little, remember everything changes and renewal will be on its way, you may find some new opportunities in the near future.

Keywords sensitivity and flexibility Taurus Apr 20 - May 20 You may have moments of feeling a little fraught, and sometimes a little overwhelmed.

For you at this time, it may be helpful to try and keep a balance in your life, and allow yourself some loving kindness. You have many close friends and family, and you are all very supportive to each other. Remember, you have an amazing inner strength, and you can face things that you don’t always think you can.

Keywords balance and inner strength Gemini May 21 - June 20 You may be feeling a little frustrated at not being able to do some of the things you really want to do right now. Take a deep breath, and allow yourself a little you time, to allow yourself to calm down, and help you see things more clearly. You have amazing quality of endurance, and inner strength.

As well as a great and creative imagination.

This could be a time for putting that creativity into motion.

Keywords. Balance, clarity and creativity Cancer June 21 - July 22 If you feel that you have decisions to make, a bit like standing at a crossroads. This could be a good time to look at the situation, or problem that you have been keeping on the back burner.

Remember that when we hang onto things like storing up too many things in a house, so can the mind can become cluttered. So take a step back and look at the situation or problem from different angles. Once you have Rrealised or released this, you may well find opportunities coming your way.

Keywords. Realisation, action and opportunities

Leo July 23 - Aug 22 Your emotions may be feeling a little in a tangle at the moment, if this is the case spend some time and think of all the positive things that you have, and begin to plan for things that you want to do in the future. If this is difficult for you, try and get outside and be with nature, she always has something wonderful to give us. Maybe take a camera and take some beautiful photos, or maybe see if you get inspiration to write poetry, or something new and wonderful. Things will begin to move forward,, and new things and opportunities will be here again keywords. Positivity, planning and new interests.

Virgo Aug 23 - Sept 22 This may be time to look round and gather not just your thoughts, but possibly things that are in wrong places, or that need to be dealt with.

Giving things a CleanSweep both in the practical, and in the mind, can be very beneficial.

Follow your intuition, and you will find this Will help to renew your own energy, and positivity, for your surroundings and for yourself.

Keywords. Clearing, positivity and intuition Libra Sept 23 - Oct 22 This could be a good time to review a few things that are on your mind, to see what needs weeding out and what can be brought in without too many major adjustments. This could bring a lot of new and interesting things into your life, And may bring you Some renewed inspiration. if you find some things quite difficult, remember you have a strong Character that can carry you through most difficulties.

Keywords. Review, redo, and renew Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21 You always seem to be on the go, and have a little time for yourself. If you can, try and find a small space in your day to review and reflect on your day, and plans for the future. You like to try and help people, sometimes you can be a little forceful in your comments,, if you can, be more sensitive for your own feelings as well as those of others.

Flexibility can sometimes be a good thing to, as long as it doesn’t mean you straight from your own values.

Keywords. You time, flexibility and sensitivity Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21 This seems to be a time of collecting and\or reviewing. It may literally be a time to gather your thoughts, as much as anything else. Try and keep calmness and balance, and use this time for clearing your environment, and keeping your mind clear of negative thoughts. There will soon be some opportunities coming your way.

Keywords. Gathering, clearing, and new opportunities Capricorn Dec 22 0 Jan 19 This could be a time for new ideas or projects, especially if you are feeling a bit stressed due to our current circumstances. Give yourself some you time, and reflect on things that may need some nurturing. This could be your home environment, or relationships.

25 Keywords nurturing and renewal

TRAINING  SERVICE  SALES  HIRE

Bristol's Largest Independent Construction Health & Safety Training Centre

    

IPAF PASMA Forklift Manual Handling Asbestos Awareness

    

CITB Health & Safety Awareness CITB SSSTS and Refreshers CITB SMSTS and Refreshers First Aid Face Fit Testing

    

Abrasive Wheels Working at Height Scaffold Inspection Ladder & Steps and more...

0117 967 0811 info@davisaccess.co.uk | www.davisaccess.co.uk Unit 4, Bakers Park, Cater Road, Bishopsworth, Bristol, BS13 7TT 26

STRANDED BABIES HIGHLIGHT NEED FOR UK LAW REFORM A specialist in modern family law says current UK surrogacy laws need a major reform in light of the news that dozens of babies are stranded abroad after being born to surrogate mothers during the coronavirus crisis.

Sarah Wood-Heath says the heartbreaking reality that intended parents are unable to travel to their newborn babies in other countries, highlights how the outdated laws in the UK are letting parents down.

Sarah, a partner at national law firm Clarke Willmott LLP, said: “It is a sad fact that a lot of people who are trying to start a family via a surrogate in this country feel like they have no choice but to go abroad to complete the process.

“In the UK it is very difficult to find a surrogate outside of your family and friendship group as commercial surrogacy arrangements are not legal.

This means that you cannot pay someone to be your surrogate (only reasonable expenses). It also means you are unable to advertise that you are looking for a surrogate and a surrogate is unable to advertise themselves.

“There is also no binding contract between the surrogate and the intended parents which leads to a lot of unnecessary anxiety and uncertainty on both sides. Furthermore, the surrogate (and her partner) are recognised as the legal parents of the child until the intended parents obtain a parental order from the Court following the birth.

“For those who feel uncomfortable and vulnerable with the position in the UK or who don’t have a friend or family member willing to carry their baby the options are few and far between and so they look to foreign jurisdictions. In a lot of foreign countries the rules are more relaxed, they allow commercial surrogacy and some have an established legal process recognising the intended parents as the legal parents at birth.”

The USA is a popular surrogacy hotspot as commercial surrogacy is legal in most states but the high cost of the process here means it is often prohibitive to intended parents. As a result countries like Ukraine have become increasingly popular, where treatment is more affordable but there are less regulations.

“There are advantages but also risks to choosing surrogacy abroad and it adds complications to an already difficult and stressful situation, not least having to obtain travel documents to get the baby home once it is born. I have had clients who have been stuck abroad for months after the birth of their child,” said Sarah.

“Of course, nobody could foresee this current situation but it does bring into stark reality the existing concerns family lawyers have about both our system and the systems in other countries.

“The Law Commission is currently reviewing our surrogacy laws which is a really welcome development and I hope that the system is updated to reflect modern family living and to help couples achieve their goals of starting a family as much as possible and make the path easier here in the UK. “We must remember that at the heart of this are parents who have usually been on a torrid and fraught journey of infertility to get to this point and who desperately want to grow their family.

“The anxiety of the intended parents whose babies are thousands of miles away must be phenomenal so I hope that the government will step in soon and class their journeys as essential travel so the families can be united.”

Sarah’s comments come after it was reported that over 50 babies are stranded at one Ukraine clinic and are now being cared for by nurses at a nearby hotel. Sarah Wood-Heath is a partner and expert in specialist family law, helping clients build and create their families. Her specialisms include surrogacy, donor conception and co-parenting agreements.

For more information visit www.clarkewillmott.com

27

Co-operation is key during COVID-19 pandemic A local co-operative is asking residents to keep up the ‘incredible' support for its colleagues and the community as the encouragement has been vital in lifting spirits during the pandemic.

Gemma Lacey, Director of Sustainability and Communications at Southern Co-op, said: "The response from our communities and colleagues has been really incredible during the pandemic.

Rainbows drawn by local children cover the windows of many Southern Co-op stores and messages of thanks have been shared with both its retail and funeralcare colleagues.

"It is vital that we help those who are more vulnerable in our communities and that our support for charities and community groups extends beyond this critical time to help these organisations sustain their important work both now and in the future.

With the pandemic affecting the lives of thousands of people, these small actions are making a difference and helping Southern Co-op colleagues to continue caring for the bereaved and putting food on the shelves to keep our communities fed.

Mark Smith, Chief Executive of Southern Co-op, said: "When the outbreak first hit, we put out a plea to customers and members to shop responsibly, observe social distancing measures and help us to support our communities.

"We would like to say a big thank you to our members and customers who've done this. I'd also like to thank our colleagues for their hard work throughout, under very challenging circumstances.

I've been especially impressed with their collective commitment, energy and how they have risen to the challenge.

"Initially we experienced panic buying which affected all retailers as the distribution network struggled to keep pace. Thankfully the situation has improved and we are working with our suppliers, distribution centres and colleagues to ensure this continues."

In order to support Southern Co-op's 250 food stores, funeral homes and crematoria across the south of England, the independent co-operative has recruited and trained 348 extra colleagues.

It has also fitted more than 700 protective till screens, installed 9,000 social distancing floor markings, established a dedicated daily shopping hour for the vulnerable, and offered all NHS and social care workers a 10% discount.

For its frontline teams, it has offered a special recognition scheme with a bonus for eligible retail and funeralcare colleagues.

28

"Our colleagues have been creative in finding ways to support our communities for example collecting fabric for Guys Marsh prison who are making scrubs for their local NHS, providing resources such as word searches and colouring pages for children, and encouraging expression through art, which has been displayed in our sites windows. So please help us to keep the momentum going on this.

"For those that want to do a bit more, we would also invite people to support our FareShare campaign which is fighting hunger and food waste through the distribution of food to charities in our region."

Southern Co-op has donated £50,000 to FareShare, the UK's largest hunger fighting charity, to support the distribution of food to charities in the south. To help make a bigger impact, customers are being invited to add to this donation.

For every £1 donated, FareShare (registered charity number 1100051) is able to redistribute four meals so a £5 donation equals 20 meals to vulnerable people.

•

Text ‘SOUTH' to 70490 to donate £5 to FareShare - texts cost £5 plus your standard network rate (T&Cs are available on Southern Co-op's website)

•

Donate in store - make your donation at the till point when shopping in one of our food stores (https://stores.thesouthernco-operative.co.uk/search.html)

•

Go online - make a donation via https:// fareshare.charitycheckout.co.uk/southernco-operative#!/

“For those that want to do a bit more, we would also invite people to support our FareShare campaign which is fighting hunger and food waste through the distribution of food to charities in our region.”

Gemma Lacey, Director of Sustainability and Communications at Southern Co-op, said: "The response from our communities and colleagues has been really incredible during the pandemic.

"It is vital that we help those who are more vulnerable in our communities and that our support for charities and community groups extends beyond this critical time to help these organisations sustain their important work both now and in the future.

"Our colleagues have been creative in finding ways to support our communities for example collecting fabric for Guys Marsh prison who are making scrubs for their local NHS, providing resources such as word searches and colouring pages for children, and encouraging expression through art, which has been displayed in our sites windows.

So please help us to keep the momentum going on this.

Southern Co-op has donated £50,000 to FareShare, the UK's largest hunger fighting charity, to support the distribution of food to charities in the south. To help make a bigger impact, customers are being invited to add to this donation.

For every £1 donated, FareShare (registered charity number 1100051) is able to redistribute four meals so a £5 donation equals 20 meals to vulnerable people.

Text ‘SOUTH' to 70490 to donate £5 to FareShare - texts cost £5 plus your standard network rate (T&Cs are available on Southern Co-op's website) Donate in store - make your donation at the till point when shopping in one of our food stores (https://stores.thesouthernco-operative.co.uk/ search.html)

29

MEMORIAL WOODLANDS MOVE TOWARDS LARGER FUNERAL SERVICES Bristol Memorial Woodlands is now able to offer larger scale funeral services depending on the number of households involved.

Congregations of between 20 and 30 people can now be accommodated in the chapel and rooms at the woodland burial grounds near Alveston, just outside of Bristol, with careful planning to keep households separate.

In keeping with the guidance, which is under constant review, Bristol Memorial Woodlands has been able to arrange for the required spacing to be possible in its chapel. The funeral directors, working with each family, are able to ensure that social distancing between different households can be maintained during services while allowing the maximum number of people to attend.

Christopher Baker, who founded Bristol Memorial Woodlands, where a woodland nature reserve is being created with trees planted in memory of those buried there, said: “For some weeks now we have been restricted to a maximum of 10 people at a funeral but the relaxing of regulations and with planning over seating we can now accommodate between 20 and 30 people, depending on the households involved.

“Throughout the pandemic we have been offering people an opportunity to come back later in the year to have a memorial service after a small-scale burial service. The time is not yet right for us to start booking those services but we can offer some comfort to those organising a funeral now.

30

“It has been terribly distressing for families not being able to say goodbye properly to their loved ones. In many parts of the country there are still funerals taking place with nobody in attendance and with churches closed and many crematoria not permitting congregations to enter, others having restricted space and time slots, families need to find a place to grieve and say a proper goodbye.

“The great comfort that we can offer is that the woodlands will be here for all time, managed by our charitable trust, so people will be able to come back in the future, gather under the trees near their loved one, picnic and remember lives well lived.”

Bristol Memorial Woodlands contains dedicated Muslim and Jewish burial grounds and are also supporting those communities through the current restrictions.

More information on the new half day funerals can be obtained by calling Luke on 01454 414999 or Ella, at Westbury-on-Trym, on 0117 9504100. You may wish to email: admin@memorialwoodlands. com or admin@mwfuneraldirectors.com Visit: www.memorialwoodlands.com or www.mwfuneraldirectors.com

31

THE FORCE, EXTERMINATE AND F.A.B. WILL SEE US THROUGH LOCKDOWN As you’d probably expect, again this month we’re doing things a little differently. Cinema doors sadly are still closed, but things are slowly improving, and luckily there’s plenty of binge-worthy entertainment to watch at home.

The Empire Strikes Back

Here we’ll highlight the top TV and films available on a range of streaming services.

Last month saw two Star Wars movies – Revenge of the Sith and The Empire Strikes Back – celebrate major birthdays. That’s why now is the perfect time to delve into The Mandalorian on Disney Plus. An 8-part series set between the events of Episode VI and VII, it follows a lone bounty hunter journeying from planet to planet in the hopes of protecting a vital asset.

Meanwhile, over on Netflix, the long-awaited TV adaptation of Snowpiercer arrives. Set in the far future where humanity must keep moving to survive a frozen Earth, the lower classes will only stay satiated for so long. Then The Lovebirds has recently started streaming, following a romantic couple’s attempt to track down a murderer.

Don’t discount the joys both Brit Box and Amazon Prime bring either. The former features old-school English classics like Doctor Who and Thunderbirds, while Prime is stacked with original TV shows like Upload and New Amsterdam to check out.

The sun might be shining, but there’s plenty of boxsets set to encourage you to stay safe and at home. The month of June needn’t be a month of moan.

Article by Aaron Potter

Thunderbirds

32

Snowpiercer

Sudoku Puzzles

Word Search PROTECTIVE RUTHLESS SCATTERED SILENT SQUALID STRONG

BUSTLING CEASELESS CRAZY CURIOUS CURVED DEBONAIR

DELIRIOUS DIZZY EASY EQUABLE FURTIVE GRANDIOSE

GROTESQUE HYSTERICAL MAD MILITARY MODERN NUMBERLESS

EASY

MEDIUM

HARD Here are this weeks 3 puzzles to test your number crunching skills ranging from easy to medium and hard.

Click the download symbol below to download our puzzles and competitions to your phone or computer and complete at your own leisure.

Print it or write directly on the PDF its up to you.

33

L A Cinema ‘Film Quiz’ The L A Cinema Film Quiz has now been running for ten weeks!

You can ‘Like’ our Facebook page: www.facebook. com/longashtoncinema/

The online quiz was set-up by Long Ashton Cinema during the government lockdown and is a weekly film quiz, played for fun and to test your cinema knowledge.

Or you can follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ lavillagecinema

Each week, there are fifty questions with answers provided at the end. Quiz topics have included: movie scores, Al Pacino films, the directors Stanley Kubrick and Ridley Scott, movie props, famous quotes, world cinema, Brat Pack movies from the 1980s and much more!

The host of the quiz, James Ewen, also recommends weekly lockdown film suggestions from Hollywood and beyond, which have been consumed on DVD and Blu-Ray and streaming channels such as Netflix, Mubi, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime.

I’ve also asked participants of the quiz to pick favourite films they would take on a desert island and discuss particular genres and directors.

The quiz streams ‘live’ every Friday evening at 20:30pm on the L A Cinema YouTube channel.

This can be found by searching L A Community Cinema or going to URL link: www.youtube.com/ channel/UCRWvSeAgX7o1B9-QQao9tsA Quiz updates, movie news, noteworthy articles and film recommendations are also posted on L A Cinema’s social media channels.

34

Hope you can join us for the film quiz. Stay safe and enjoy watching great cinema! The Long Ashton Community Cinema team.

STAR

PLUMBING & HEATING SUPPLIES

TEL: 0117 329 5525

Plumbing - Heating - Bathrooms - Boilers - Boiler Spares

OUR TRADE COUNTER IS STILL OPEN TO EVERYONE. OPEN MON - FRI FROM 7AM

Star Plumbing & heating Supplies, 15 Kenn Court, Roman Farm, Road, Bristol, BS4 1UL 35

As promised all the answers to all the puzzles and riddles from last week.

Word Search Sudoku Sudoku Puzzles

Weekly Riddles

Word Search PHOTO POPULATION READING RESOURCE SCENE SON SUGGESTION

1. I’m light as a feather, yet the strongest person can’t hold me for five minutes. What am I? Answer Your breath

ASSISTANT CLASSROOM CLIMATE CLOTHES CONTROL CONVERSATION DESCRIPTION

ENTERTAINMENT EXAMINATION FORTUNE FOUNDATION FREEDOM GENE

IMPROVEMENT INSTANCE INTENTION JUDGMENT MARRIAGE MODE PERMISSION

EASY

2. I’m found in socks, scarves and mittens; and often in the paws of playful kittens. What am I? Answer Yarn 3. Riddle: Where does today come before yesterday?

Answer The dictionary

MEDIUM

4. Riddle: What invention lets you look right through a wall?

Answer A window 5. Riddle: If you’ve got me, you want to share me; if you share me, you haven’t kept me. What am I? Answer A secret

HARD Here are this weeks 3 puzzles to test your number crunching skills ranging from easy to medium and hard.

Click the download symbol below to download our puzzles and competitions to your phone or computer and complete at your own leisure.

Print it or write directly on the PDF its up to you.

33

KEEP YOUR

£ LOCAL £

£

£

£

SUPPO YOUR RT LO BUSIN CAL ESSES .. £

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

Bristol’s Quality Advertising Magazines

Please let your local business know that you saw them in....

36

Rolls ‘R’ Us FRESH SANDWICHES ROLLS & BAGUETTES DAILY - FREE LOCAL DELIVERY (min order £6) All Day Breakfast Now Available!

Tel: 01275 547 444 Open Monday to Friday (8am - 4pm) Saturday (9am - 2pm) (COLLECTION ONLY)

7 The Parade Hengrove Bristol BS14 9OP

W 10% I A TH O D V TH FF E R IS T

Hot & Cold Sandwiches Baguettes Jacket potatoes Open Monday to Saturday

Bristols Favorite Sandwiches

01179 638000 26 Winterstoke Rd,Bristol, BS3 2SG

FREE SPRING BIKE CHECK WITH THIS ADVERT

www.sullycycles.co.uk

0117 980 3337

37

Your Garden In June

Come June, its pretty safe to say that the risk of frost is behind us – summer is on its way and it’s time to make sure the garden is in good shape for the summer months. The sun is shining, the birds are singing and the garden is bursting into life. This makes June a particularly busy month for the green-fingered among us with lots of planting, pruning, maintenance and weeding to do done. All our hard work is sure to be worth the effort though as we sit back and admire the onset of summer in our garden.

Plant of the month: Rose

The essential gardening jobs for June

Plant baskets and containers Now the risk of morning frost has passed, its time to plant up your containers, hanging baskets and planters. If you already had them growing in the greenhouse, or hardening off outside during the day, then It’s now safe to move them out to their summer position – choosing a sunny spot will ensure you get the best from them. Trim any excess growth to maintain shape and deadhead regularly to encourage flower growth. Water at least once a day or more frequently when it’s hot dry and windy. Regular feeding – once per week in the summer – will also help your plants to thrive.

Mow lawns once a week The lawn will be growing fast now and will continue to do so throughout the summer, so a good weekly cut is essential to keep it looking neat and tidy. To make sure your lawn looks its best for summer, apply a spring fertiliser onto established lawns now.

38

A good feed and a regular close cut will encourage extra growth making your lawn thick and lush.

Don’t forget to reduce cutting frequency and raise mower blades if we have a drought.

Why should you plant them?

Roses suit all kinds of gardens –they come in huge variety of colours, shapes and scents. They can be grown in beds, borders and containers and can be grown up walls, fences and trellis.

Care for your roses June is traditionally the month when roses are at their peak. You will need to keep an eye out for black spots and aphid attacks.

Both of these will need treating immediately to ensure that too much damage doesn’t occur.

Black spot is a serious disease for roses caused by a fungus which infects the leaves and reduces plant vigour, and should be treated at first sign of infection with a fungicide. Green fly are sapsucking creatures that can alter the growth of roses, also decreasing their vigour. Treat roses that are being attacked by aphids with an insecticide.

How should you plant them?

Roses grown in containers can be planted all year round – check the label when buying though as their preferred spot and conditions will vary depending on the type. Dig a hole roughly twice the size of the root ball to a spade’s depth, dig in a good quality compost and fork in a general fertiliser.

Deadhead any faded rose blooms to encourage fresh buds to grow and apply a rose fertiliser after the first flowering.

Plant the rose to the same depth as it was in the container, firm down and water well. Apply a rose fertiliser every spring for amazing displays of colour.

C J Computing (Systems) Ltd.

WE HELP FIX ALL PROBLEMS! CALL TODAY ON 0117 962 4553 Virus & Spyware Removal Operating System Install Broken laptop Screen Hard Disk Recovery Home & Office Networking Gaming PC’s

57 Westbury Hill Westbury on Trym Bristol BS9 3AD

www.cjcomputing.com

39

The popular Lounge in Portishead wants to sell alcohol with its take aways

A popular cafe and bar in Portishead wants to sell alcohol along with takeaway food as it adapts to the new norm.

Impero Lounge has applied to change its licence to allow “off sales” of alcoholic drinks in sealed containers.

The Impero Lounge closed its doors in March as the lockdown took hold, with the staff furloughed, but it reopened its doors with a new takeaway menu last week.

New safety measures are in place which could be seen across the industry, including temperature checks for the staff at the start of each shift.

Lounge’s community coordinator, said: “While our usual offerings have been reduced, there is still an array of tempting options for everyone.

“The team are so glad to be back in action serving up Lounging once more to the community of Portishead.

They however I can’t give us an exact date at this time for reopening sites for sit-in customers.

However, she did say I can guarantee it’ll only be when it’s deemed absolutely safe for our wonderful customers and staff to do so.

40

She also said: “We know it’s better to be safe than sorry, so we’re making sure our staff members are fit and healthy by checking their symptoms before each shift and we are limiting the number of orders carefully to avoid potential crowding, reducing waiting times, and ensuring top quality takeaway food.”Other safety measures have been implemented including markings on the floor to ensure social distancing, safety screens at tills that only take contactless payments and a limit on the number of customers.

The general manager Wayne Hodder says: “It has been fantastic being back and being able to welcome everyone back into the Lounge. “ I think we have missed the Portishead community as much as they have missed us and we look forward to seeing more of our regulars over the next few weeks.”

There are seven lounge sites already open for takeaway and another 10 will follow next week.

The chain of Lounges are currently offering a 25 per cent discount to all NHS staff and donating 50p to local charities from every burger and main course sold.

North Somerset Council said they will consider changing the licence for Impero Lounge.

£ £

£ £250 Cash

T

STRAIGHT IN YOUR BANK ACCOUN

STARTS

4TH JUNE

Simply find the sequence of coloured letters and numbers each week within the magazine text, over the next 4 weeks. Example: L, h, R, k, 2,6 Then you simply email L, h, R, k, 26

You must be subscribed to our magazine to enter, One entrant per person.

You must be over 18 to enter.

Letters and number must in the correct sequence when emailed to us at the end of the month to be in with a chance to win £250.

The correct answers must be in by 30th June. One lucky winner will be selected at random and be contacted by us via email on the 15th July. Happy hunting folks!

Contact us : info@directlocalonline.com

41

DON’T MOVE

IMPROVE

Call In The Experts To Get Your Home Improvments Under Way Today!

Plastering Extensions Decorating Carpentry Kitchens & Bathroom Fittings Small Jobs Undertaken Too! Tel: 01173 257790 or 01275 595790 Advertising Tel: 07500 017236 E: Ron@alsbuildingservices.co.uk W: www.alsconstructionservices.co.uk & 10b High St BUILDING Shirehampton SERVICES Bristol, BS11 0DP

AL

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

Weekly riddles!

FREE ENTRY TO WATCH THE GLASS

5 Riddles that will stump you every time 1. Riddle: What can’t be put in a saucepan?

MAKING AND £5.00 OFF BAUBLE but don’t worry-we’ll give you the answers BLOWING DURING THE SUMMER Next week.

2. Riddle: What goes up and down but doesn’t HOLIDAYS! move?

Need a little break to unwind with some fun Come on list overofto5 our Bath Road Studio/Shop andrunning in a race and you pass brain teasers? Check out our riddles.

3. Riddle: If you’re watch glass making FOR FREE. They will start off easy thisthe week.

However, the person in second place, what place are you in? they will get harder and may require you to be a math whiz.

4. Riddle: It belongs to you, but other people use it more than you do. What is it?

We will even through in some funny riddles to keep you going . But beware: The hard ones 5. Riddle: What has lots of eyes, but can’t see? will put you to the test!

42

House, Garden, Office Clearance

Plus All Your Other Waste Removal Needs too!

On Average cheaper than a skip.

Tel: 07592 506 003 1/4 Load £89 Half Load £139 3/4 Load £179 Full Load £199

ai158161156125_Epic Installations Direct Local Ad A5.pdf 1 13/02/2020 16:32:42

www.junkmonsters.co.uk

Epic deals on boilers Replace your old boiler from only...

£1550* fully fitted

10 months

interest free credit* ask for details

Is your boiler old? Inefficent? Or just unreliable? It could be wasting a lot of valuable energy. Fitting a modern condensing boiler could save you up to 30% on your home heating bills!

For a no obligation quote, call today!

01275 750 225 24hr

12

YEAR WARRANTY

www.epic-installations.co.uk *Price shown excludes VAT. Interest free credit subject to T & Cs, available on request.

43

CITY AND PORT OF BRISTOL BOWLS CLUB The Annual Summer Tour is a highlight of any season at the City and Port of Bristol Club and the club has been doing it since 1984.

There was another tour in the 1980s --- this time to Newquay and this was when friends from Yorkshire made a welcome appearance.

The first ever tour was in 1984, organised by Pat Warren and Syd Dixon it was in Bournemouth and saw a full coach of 48 bowlers taking part. Most of them were members of the club ---- at that time 140 members strong --- with a few friends from other clubs coming along to enjoy the fun. It was fun ---- capped by the final evening’s fancy dress ---- people did dress in all sorts of things!

During this era some holidays were arranged ---- not as tours but they did largely include the same group of people. One such trip was to Zante --- organised by Elizabeth Blake. Others were to Bulgaria and to Scotland --- no doubt great times were had by all.

Pat continued to arrange tours for many years and was for some time Club Treasurer. She was a very good bowler, winning numerous club trophies and representing the club in both the Ladies League and in competitions for many years.

The following year saw a return to Bournemouth and another great tour. It was on this tour that the bowlers met a group of Labour Councillors and wives, from Yorkshire, and friendships were made that would lead to not only another meeting on tour but eventually to City and Port heading North to Wortley Hall near Sheffield and a try at Crown Green Bowling ---- not quite the same as playing on a flat surface. Pat remembers it not going that well!!

Pat worked with Lis Davies to organise tours at the start of the new Millennium before Lis took on the job of sole organiser, something she did before standing down at the end of the 2019 tour based in Sidmouth at the Royal York and Faulkner Hotel.

But friendships had been forged and the folk from Yorkshire made an appearance at a City and Port Presentation Evening ----- in fancy dress and were pleased to accept the offer of overnight hospitality at the end of the night.

44

At that point she had been involved in the organising of no less than 14 tours. Only in 2016 did she not see a tour through to its conclusion.

Having initiated the tour she became unwell and Gill Hinksman stepped forward to see it through to a very good conclusion in Eastbourne. It was an excellent and memorable week.

Since 2014 there has been fourteen tours --starting in Weymouth and ending in Sidmouth.

Between these there were return visits to Bournemouth in 2011 and 2017. In the first of these there was an incredible event when Marion Brailey and John Kington were hurled a long way into the air from a machine on the sea front. There was a big audience ---lots of bowlers amongst them to see it happen. They were both smiling when they returned to earth, and ---- it was sponsored.

Two visits to the Clarence House Hotel in Tenby --- 2007and 2015 --- and memories here of visiting Caldy Island by boat on a glorious day, but also the Friday morning swim in the sea -- quite a few bowlers joined in.

Exmouth was the destination in 2013 and 2014 --- staying at the Manor House ---- enjoying not only the bowling but also the sea views and a ride on the White Swans --- not real ones, on the Sea Front. This did require a little pedal power.

Two visits to Sandown --- 2008 and 2018 and memories of staying at the Trouville Hotel for the second of the two visits. Being situated almost on the beach made that early morning swim easy for George, Julie and occasionally a few others.

Newquay was re-visited in 2012, there was a visit to Paignton in 2009 and Ilfracombe was the destination in 2005.

Tours, wherever they go are to be enjoyed and to create memories. Whether it be something that somebody did or perhaps somewhere visited during the tour ----- the visit to Brighton and the Brighton Doughnut ( not edible) during the 2016 tour based in Eastbourne is something not to be forgotten. Each tour is a little different ---but some things are always there ---- wearing a duck or a sheep around your neck for 24 hours when your rink didn’t do very well today but equally the joy of winning a prize if it did.

How about the daily diddle where everyone has a ticket with a number on and if your team scores the corresponding number of shots --you win but ---- if you don’t win that you may win a prize for most correct answers in the daily quiz.

So --- what started out in 1984 is still alive today and will hopefully continue for many years to come.

Names and faces may have changed but the magic of the Summer Tour goes on.

For information about the club and its activities please call David Hinksman on 0117 9082713 45

GO BANANAS OVER BANANA LOAF WITH CHOCOLATE CHIPS

1. Preheat the oven 160C/325F/Gas 3.

Grease and line a 450g/1lb loaf tin with non-stick baking parchment.

Ingredients

3. Stir in the chocolate chips and spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf tin. Level the top.

1 ripe banana (peeled weight 100g/4oz) 1 tbsp milk 50g/2oz soft butter or baking spread 75g/3oz plain flour 75g/3oz caster sugar ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda ½ tsp baking powder 1 free-range egg 50g/2oz dark chocolate chips To decorate 50g/2oz dark chocolate

46

2. Use a fork to mash the peeled banana in a mixing bowl. Add the remaining cake ingredients (except the chocolate chips) and beat with an electric hand whisk until combined and smooth.

4. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until well risen, shrinking away from the sides of the tin and golden-brown.

5. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes, then remove from the tin and leave to cool on a wire rack.

6. For the decoration, break the chocolate into small pieces and add to a heatproof bowl.

7. Melt the chocolate in the bowl over a pan of simmering water (ensuring that the bowl does not touch the water). Stir regularly, until almost completely melted, then remove from the heat. The heat of the bowl will melt any remaining lumps.

8. Spoon the melted chocolate into a piping bag and pipe zig-zags across the top of the loaf. Set aside for the chocolate to set. Slice and serve.

HAD AN ACCIDENT? NOT YOUR FAULT?

WE CAN HELP AT NO COST TO YOU..

YES FREE!!

www.AccidentManagementBristol.co.uk

DON’T WAIT CALL US TODAY!

ACCIDENT MANAGMENT BRISTOL

ON: 0117 9647948

10% DISCOUNT WITH THIS ADVERT 47

websites.co.uk

BUILD NOW PAY LATER...

WE ARE HERE TO HELP THE LOCAL BUSINESSES OF BRISTOL Need to get online with your business? No problem we can help with packages designed just for you.

Contact us for our latest offers today!

your local website designers terms and conditions apply

Deadline looms for artists affected by coronavirus crisis to apply for new support programme launched by Bristol charity The deadline is fast approaching for artists affected by the coronavirus crisis to apply to join a new sixmonth support programme, backed by emergency funding. The deadline for applications is Monday (June 1).

Arts Council England made ÂŁ160 million of emergency funding available in response to the impact of the Covid-19 with Bristol charity Bricks among the organisations to have benefited.

Bricks director Jack Gibbon said: "Artists in the city are struggling. For various reasons, many haven't been supported by the measures introduced by the Government, whether due to their freelance practice not making up over 50% of their income, because they had not previously benefited from public funding, or because their business rates are paid as part of their rent rather than direct to local government.

"Even before Covid-19, artists were faced with challenges such as increased rents, displacement from their spaces and of course living costs that rise faster than their income streams. Opportunities for artists to connect with buyers of their work, or even to present their work to an audience in Bristol are few and far between."

48

The grant has enabled Bricks to create its Reaching Resilience programme to meet the needs of artists affected by the Covid-19 crisis but also by wider systemic issues that have made practice as a visual artist in Bristol increasingly precarious.

Reaching Resilience will provide a mechanism for visual artists to make a living from their work, by connecting them with new audiences and supporters, as well as helping them to develop their skill set, hear about opportunities and learn from each other through a peer-to-peer network.

Last year, Bricks, with the backing of leading figures from the arts community in Bristol and beyond, was behind a bid to buy Trinity Road Police Station in Old Market and transform it into an arts and community hub. Though unsuccessful in being selected, the charity has forged on with its work to support artists and communities through numerous smaller scale projects, while still working towards an arts and community hub concept in the medium term.

Deadline looms for artists affected by coronavirus crisis to apply for new support programme launched by Bristol charity Key elements of Reaching Resilience include: an online platform to profile artists, facilitate artwork sales and attract individual donations; a programme of peer-to-peer mentoring; a podcast series profiling artists and their stories; and a workshop series for artists on core skills needed to support their practice.

There will also be opportunities for artists to participate in digital commissions, where they can explore new ways to present work online and engage with audiences locally and worldwide, with a digital ‘open studios’ event to come later in the year, offering the public a chance to see inside the artists’ studios virtually.

Jack added: “This is the most exciting part of this project: to connect people with artists in a genuine way that fosters a greater understanding of both individual artists and their work but also what it is to be an artist.”

Decision making around commissions and opportunities will be devolved to Bricks’ communities. Artists will be selected to be part of the Artist Cohort, through an open application process with a decision panel, known as the Artist Steering Group, including independent artists, Bricks director Jack Gibbon and Bricks artist trustees. Yuko Edwards, an independent artist who is on the Artist Steering Group, said: “Too often artist can find themselves living quite isolated and precarious existences, so it is good to see initiatives where artists are supporting each other for mutual benefit.”

The scheme is open to emerging and established artists with a breadth of career and life experiences and approaches to visual arts practice. Applicants must be based in the West of England, defined at Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

Jack Gibbon added: "We want Reaching Resilience to be part of an inclusive and sustainable economic and cultural recovery from the Covid-19 crisis. The intention is that this programme lays the foundation for a self-funding mechanism to support visual arts practice in Bristol, which will develop collaboratively and iteratively over time.

"Reaching Resilience will provide an area-wide network to connect artists. Often artists are working in back rooms and kitchen tables, in snatched moments between the rest of their life, without the support of a studio network. I don't think two artists will have the same experience of this programme, as different people will connect with different parts depending on their needs."

The grant is critical to Bricks' ability to develop an income stream that will form the backbone of its post Covid-19 business model. Pre-Covid-19, Bricks was about to launch public commissions with communities in St Anne's, Brislington and Redcliffe. Unfortunately, as these projects involve high levels of face to face community interaction, they have been postponed until they can be safely delivered post-lockdown. As such Bricks' focus is on creating opportunities for local artists both through the Reaching Resilience programme and their work as public art producers.

49

TRADE ONLY

Tel: 0117 938 1515

AVONMOUTH

web: www.howdens.com

Kitchens

Joinery Hardware

email: avonmouth@howdens.com

Flooring

Appliances

NEW KITCHEN SHOWROOM NOW OPEN TO EVERYONE

PLEASE COME BROWSE OUR NEW DISPLAYS. WE HAVE EASY LEVEL ACCESS & AMPLE PARKING

NEW

NEW

Free Free Kitchen Design Service

After a Free home measure consultation our professional instore kitchen designers can create and plan your dream kitchen using our computer aided software and provide you with an A3 illustration. Or bring in your own details.

Don't have a fitter ? We can assist with details of local kitchen installers.

CALL US TO BOOK A FREE HOME MEASURE TODAY!!

We sell directly to the trade because we understand they have the know how and craftsmanship to install your new kitchen. They can install it exactly the way you want it and when you want it.

Unit 1 Avonbridge Trad. Est, Atlantic Road, BS11 9QD 50

Opening times Mon - Fri 7.30am - 5.00pm, Sat 8am - 12pm